Machine for writing a plurality of signatures.



F. A. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR WRITING A PLURALITY 0F SIGNATURES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1912.

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F. A. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR WRITING A PLURALITY 0F SIGNATURES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11,1912.

1,080,346. Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2.

Fig 2 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON. n cy P. A. JOHNSON.

MACHINE FOR WRITING A PLURALITY 0F SIGNATURES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNB11,1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TTE

STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

FRANK AMOS JOHNSON, F DUNELLEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIGNATURE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR WRITING A PLURALITY OF SIGNATURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 1) cc. 2, 1.913.

Application filed June 11, 1912. Serial No. 702,971.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK Amos JonnsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dunellen, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improveients in Machines for lVriting a Plurality of Signatures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for simultaneously writing a plurality of signatures and is designed especially for signing checks, bonds, stock certificates and similar instruments where there are a large number of signatures to be affixed.

My invention belongs to that class of machines referred to in which the pens are mounted on a common pen-bar which has a universal, movement in a horizontal plane and where the pen pressure is given and maintained by the hand of the user.

My improvements relate chiefly to the means for obtaining universal movement of the pen-bar and to means for attaching the pens and the pilot handle to the pen-bar.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction which has a wide range, which is accurate and which can be manufactured and put on the market at a price which will make it available in a large number of offices where they do not find it profitable to use the larger machines which are now on the market.

In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan; Fig. 2 is a left elevation; Fig. 3 is a front sectional elevation on line X-X of Fig. 1. Figs. 1 and 5 are full size details showing the means for attaching the pilot handle, and Fig. 6 shows an alternative construction of means for balancing the moving parts.

The pen-bar 1, is made of a rectangular tube and has a slot 2 cutin its left hand side. Each of a series of pen-grippers 3, which carry the pens or writing members p, is provided with a plurality of dovetailed blocks or lugs 1, which are adapted to enter the slot 2 of the pen-bar and they are held by clamping screws 5, which extend Vertically through the pen-bar. From this construction it is evident that the pens may be clamped in any position on the pen-bar and that the pen points may extend in the direction shown in the drawings or in the direction of either of the arrows p and p of Fig. 1. The pen-bar is pivoted or hinged to a swinging roclcshaft (S, by a pair of links 7. These links are forked at both ends and connection is made to the pen-bar by means of pointed center screws 8 and blocks 9-thc latter being secured to the pen-bar and provided with countersunk holes to receive the pointed screws. Connection is made to the swinging rock-shaft G by pins 10 and pointed center scrcws 11.

The swinging rock-shaft (i is preferably made of tubular metal. and it has plugs 12 in its ends which receive pointed center pivot pins 13. These pivots are in the lower or free ends of a pair of arms 1.41. which are secured to a fixed horizontal rockshaft 15. This rock-shaft is mounted on center bearing screws 16 in front and rear uprights 17, which are secured to a base 18. This base is of sufficient size and weight to give stability to the whole structure. The uprights 17 have upwardly extending arms 19 which are connected by a tie bar 20. The swinging arms 14.- are connected near their lower ends by a tie bar 21. The base 18 and braced uprights 17 constitute a suitable form of main frame for supporting the working parts of the mechanism in operative position.

The pilot handle 22, is connected to the pen-bar 1 by means of the following parts: shank 23; ball 24.; socket sleeve 25; band arm 27 and block 2Ssec Figs. 2, 1 and 5. The block 28 is held :l'rictionally in the end of the pen-bar and the arm 27 is clamped in this block by a screw 29. This construction allows the pilot handle to be adjusted up and down. The block 28 may be cl amped in the opposite end of the pen-bar tube, as would be necessary when the pens are attached to the pen-bar with their points in the direction of the arrow 7) (Fig. 1), which would make the machine convenient for a left handed writer. The sleeve incloses the ball 24 and it has a slot 30 which is entered by the front end of the arm 27. The band 26 holds the sleeve firmly against a shoulder 31 of the arm 27. An adjusting screw 32 in the front side of the sleeve 25 acts against an inclined surface 33 on the front end of arm 27. By this means the ball 24; is held with precision between the socket sleeve 25 and arm 27 and can be given freedom of movement without a particle of looseness or lost motion. The socket sleeve 25 is provided with a notch 25 which is adapted to receive the shank 23 of the pilot, so that the pilot may be folded down to horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1,when not in use.

The whole machine rests on a suitable ta ble T, on which the documents to be signed may be placed.

It will be evident from the foregoing construction that by taking hold of the pilot handle 22 that the pens which are attached to the pen-bar will be carried in unison with the movements of the pilot and that as many signatures may be made at one time as there are pens on the pen-bar. It is also evident that the weight of the pens and penbar and a portion of the weight of the links 7 will have to be raised by the hand of the operator and it will also be evident that, if the parts are swung to the right or left, so that the arms 1 f would occupy the positions indicated by the lines Y or Z in Fig. 8, or any intermediate position, that these arms would tend to return to the position in which they are shown in Fig. 3. To overcome these objections and make the mechanism more sensitive to the touch of the operator I have provided means for balancing these parts. This balancing may be done in different ways. As a preferred means I provide the swinging rock-shaft 6 with an arm 84-. To the outer or free end of this arm I attach a spring 35, the upper end of which is attached to a fixed arm 36 which extends out from the tie bar 20. The spring 35 is of suflicient tension and the direction of its pull such that it will just balance the penbar. This position I term the normal balanced position. I provide an independent means for balancing the parts on the fixed rock-shaft 15 when moved out of this normally balanced position, as follows: The rock-shaft 15 has an arm 37. To the outer or free end of this arm I pivot a curved link 38 which is connected by a spring 39 to a pin 40 in the rear upright 17. The arm 37 is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3, so that when the arms 14 are verticalthat is, in their normally balanced position-the spring 39 is pulling toward the center of the shaft 15 and is on dead center and there is no tendency to turn the shaft 15. If, however, the arms 1 1 be swung toward either position indicated by the dotted lines Y or Z, the arm 37 will be carried in an opposite direction and the spring 39 will pass off the dead center and will act to balance the shaft 15 and will retain the parts in whatever position they may be carried. By this means the pens and pen-bar are practically inert and the will stay in any position on the writing surface to which they may be carried by the pilot 22.

An alternative means of balancing these parts is shown in Fig. Gthe pen-bar having a counterweight 41 and the rock-shaft 6 a counter weight 1-2. These weights will act in the same manner as the springs which have just been described to balance the parts, but the increased weight gives increased momentum and is objectionable on that account.

The arms 14 pivotally supporting the rock shaft (5 constitute a swinging support which depends from its overhead pivotal support upon the main frame to move about a hori- Zontal pivotal axis and rests normally in approximately vertical position. The paral lel motion device comprising the pen bar 1, and parallel links 7, has universal joint connection with the lower end of the swinging support through the rock shaft 6. This parall el motion device extends laterally from said swinging support in approximately horizontal position. This simple and novel construction is of great importance in producing a machine in which the pen bar presents a minimum and uniform resistance in all of its writing positions so that it will respond accurately to a minimum effort of the operator.

I have shown only three pens, but this number may be greatly increased as the penbar can be greatly extended without affecting the accuracy of the writing. The long pivoted hinge connections of the links 7 to the rock-shaft 6 transmits the up-and-down movement (pressure) of the pilot handle, from one end of the pen-bar to the other with very great accuracythe torsion of the shaft 6 andspring of the arms 7 being inappreciable. The movements of the pens right and left are dependent for accuracy on the stiffness of the rock-shaft 15 and the arms 14 which are practically rigid for the work that is put on them, even though the number of pens be greatly extendedto a dozen or fifteen, for instance. In short, the construction shown permits the making of the moving parts of the lightest material and yet maintaining the greatest accuracy, by eliminating all lost motion and at the same time giving the greatest freedom of movement.

The upright brackets 17 have horizontal portions l7 which carry the shaft 15 out beyond and away from the base 18 of the on; a pair of links pivotally connecting said pen-bar to said swinging rock-shaft, and means for maintaining said arms and parts sup-ported thereby approximately balanced in all positions.

2. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar having a. plurality of pens mounted thereon; a fixed rock-shaft; intermediate connections between said pen-bar and said fixed rock-shaft comprising a pair of pivoted links, a swinging rock-shaft, and a pair of arms secured to said fixed roclesha tt; in combination with means for balancing said pen-bar; and means for balancing said in termediate connections upon said fixed rocle shaft.

3. I11 a machine of the class described, a fixed horizontal rock-shaft; a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; intermediate connections between said penbar and said rock-shaft which hold said pen-bar and permit a bodily movement right and left; in combination with a compensating balance device for maintaining said penbar and intermediate connections in a balanced position on said fixed rock-shaft, whereby said pen-bar is approximately balanced at all times.

l. In a. machine of the class described, a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; a horizontal rock-shaft; intermediate connections between said pen-bar and said rock-shaft; means for maintaining said pen-bar and said intermediate connections in a normally balanced position on said rock-shaft; in combination with independent means for balancing said parts on said rock-shaft when said rock-shaft is moved from said normally balanced position.

In a machine of the class described, a fixed horizontal rock-shaft; a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; intermediate connections between said penbar and said fixed rock-shaft; means for maintaining said pen-bar and said interme diate connections in a normallV balanced position on said fixed rocleshact't; in combination with independent means for balancing said pen-bar and intermediate connections on said fixed rock-shaft when moved out of normally balanced positionsaid independent means comprising an arm secured to said fixed rock-shaft and a spring attached to the free end of said arm-said spring being adapted to pull in a direction which is toward the center of said fixed rock-shaft when said parts are in normal balanced position.

6. In a machine of the class described, a fixed rock-shaft; a pen-bar having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; intermediate connections between said pen-bar and said rock-shaft; means for maintaining said pen-bar and intermediate connections in a normally balanced position on said fixed rock shatt-said means comprising a supporting spring for said pen-bar; in com.- bination with independent means for balancing said pen-bar and intermediate connections on said fixed rock-shaft when moved out of normally balanced position.

7 In a machine oi. the class described, a pen-bar comprising a slotted tube; a plural ity of pen grippers each adapted to hold a pen or writing member and each provided with an extension or lug which is adapted to enter the slot of said pen-bar to be clamped; in combination with means for drawing the sides of said tube together to hold said pen grippers.

S. In a machine of the class described, a pen gripper adapted to hold a pen or writing member said gri 'n ier being provided with a plurality of independent clampable surfaces; in combination with a pen-bar and means for securing said pen gripper to said pen-bar and engaging any of its clampable suritaces-whereby the pens or writing member may be secured to said pen-bar in a plurality of certain fixed positions.

9. In a machine of the class described, a pen gripper adapted to hold a pen or writing member-said pen gripper being provided with a plurality oil. lugs, at right augles to each other; in combination with a pen-bar having a slot and means for clamping said pen gripper in said pen-bar by any of said lugs.

10. In a machine of the class described, a pen-carrying device, having a plurality of pens mounted thereon; a pilot handle provided with a ball; a socket sleeve adapted to encircle said ball; an arm, between which and said sleeve said ball may be secured; means for securing said sleeve to said arm; in combination with means for adjusting said sleeve with reference to said arm and means for attaching said arm to said pencarrying device.

11. In a machine of the class described, a base coml irising a heavy metallic plate; a pair of arms extending upwardly and out ardly from said plate; a roclosha'tt mounted in said arms; in combination with a penbar provided with a ')lurality o't pens and intermediate connections between said penbar and said roclesha'lt and means for balancing said pen-bar and intermediate connections on said rock-shaft.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the following elements, to -wit: a base plate; a pair of arms or brackets secured to said plate; a tie bar connecting said arms; a fixed rock-shaft; centers on which said shaft is mounted said centers being secured in said arms; a pair of fixed arms secured to said rockshaft; a tie bar joining said fixed arms; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of centers on which said swinging rock-shaft is mountedsaid centers being secured in said I fixed arms; a pen-bar having a plurality of j pens; a pair of links joining said pen-bar and said swinging rock-shaft and means for 1 balancing said pen-bar and intermediate connections between said pen-bar and saidallel motion device, and a compensating balfixed rock-shaft, on said fixed rock-shaft.

13. In a machine of the class described, a pen-bar having a plurallty of pens mounted thereon; a swinging rock-shaft; a pair of links pivotally connecting said pen-bar to said rock-shaft; a fixed rock-shaft; a pair of arms rigidly secured to said fixed rock-shaft-said swinging rock-shaft being axially plvoted between the outer or free ends of said arms; a support for said fixed rock-shaftg in combination with means for approximately balancing said pen bar and swinging rock shaft in all positions.

lat. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame and a depending swinging support pivoted upon said main frame to move about a horlzontal pivotal axis and resting normally in approximately vertical position, with a parallel motion device having universal joint,

connection with the lower end of said swinging support and extending laterally there-' from in approximately horizontal position, a plurality of writing members, earned by said parallel motion device, and a compensating balance device acting upon said swinging support.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame and a depending swinging support pivoted upon said main frame to move about a horizontal pivotal axis, with a parallel motion device having universal joint connection with said swinging support and said parallel motion device.

16.111 a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame,

and a depending swinging support pivoted;

upon said main frame to move about a horizontal pivotal axis and resting normally in approximatelyvertical position, with a parallel motion device having universal joint connection with the lower end of said swinging support and extending laterally therefrom in approximately horizontal position, a plurality of writing members, carried by said parallel motion device, counterbalancing means connected with said parance device acting upon said swinging sup port.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame, a depending swinging support pivoted upon said main frame to move about a horizontal pivotal axis, a pair of parallel links having universal joint connection at their inner end with the lower end of said swinging support, a pen bar pivotally connected with the outer end of said parallel links, a plurality of writing members mounted upon said pen bar, and compensating balancing means comprising an arm projecting from said swinging support adjacent to its pivotal axis, and a spring attached to said arm and to a stationary point and adapted to pull in a direction toward said pivotal axis when the parts are in normal balanced position.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a main frame, depending connected swinging supporting members pivoted upon said main frame, a pair of parallel links having universal joint connection at their inner end with the lower end of said swinging supportingmembers,

and said pivotal axis in the normal position of the parts.

in testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. AMOS JOHNSON.

Witnesses T. O. MAcnINNoN, F. E. COMPTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedv forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

